EURYI Programme
Scientific organizations of European Heads of Research Councils (EuroHORCs) and European Science Foundation (ESF) together prepared new programme for young talented researchers European Young Investigator Awards (EURYI).
EURYI is prestigious programme, which fully corresponds to European strategic plan for research and development. The GACR joined EURYI programme on September 1, 2005.
The EURYI programme is focused on outstanding young scientists, who received doctoral (PhD) degree two to eight years ago. The aim of the programme is to enable to create their own research teams at European research centres. Programme also supports the mobility of young researchers within the framework of European Research Area (ERA).
The main selection criteria for EURYI Awards candidates are their scientific potential, outstanding ability and originality in given scientific field, an excellent track record, and the potential to become world class leaders in their chosen field of research. The EURYI programme is open for all research domains from any country in the world.
The EURYI programmes are mainly of non-investment character, which create and fund the research team dealing with new and innovative project in research and development. The average funding, for five-year period project, is 750 000 Euro to 1 500 000 Euro per project. Financial plan of EURYI programme must be in accordance with conditions given in Call for Proposals. Detailed information can be found on European Science Foundation web site.
EURYI works through a two stage selection process. The first step consists of application to and selection by the participating organization from the proposed host country. The second step is carried out by ESF, using broadly-based international panels, and results in the final selection of awardees.
The GACR is responsible for national stage of selection process. It is carried out in the standard way. Evaluation process at the GACR is performed
by EYRYI Programme Committee consisting of top range specialists.
The GACR is entitled to send the best two Czech proposals to the second stage of evaluation, which is carried out by ESF.
Eleven young Czech scientists submitted proposals to the 3rd Call for proposals in EURYI programme in 2005. The best two proposals from the Czech Republic were recommended by GACR for submission to the second stage of the selection process, which is performed by ESF. Twenty five grants were awarded, unfortunately none for Czech scientists.
The deadline for submission proposals to the 4th Call for proposals in EURYI programme was on November 30, 2006. Eleven proposals were submitted to the national stage of the selection process in the Czech Republic. In March 2007 national review process was finished and two best Czech proposals were recommended by GACR for submission to the second stage of the selection process, which is performed by ESF. Twenty grants were awarded.
The great success of the Czech science is that one EURYI grant was awarded to Dr. Martin Schnabl from the Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic for his project with title: Exploring string field theory – can it explain quantum birth of the universe or properties of elementary particles?
The EURYI programme was terminated by EuroHORCs’ decision. New programme for supporting young scientists was established within the framework of European Research Council (ERC). It is called SIR – Starting Independent Research Grant.
The Czech Republic and EURYI
| Call for Proposals | Deadline for Call for Proposals | Czech selection process | International selection process | |
| 1st call (2003) | CR did not take part in EURYI programme | |||
| 2nd call (2004) | CR did not take part in EURYI programme | |||
| 3rd call (2005) | 1.9.2005 | 30.11.2005 | 1.12.2005-30.3.2006 | 1.4.-31.7.2006 |
| submission of 11 proposals in CR, 457 to ESF | 2 proposals from CR recommended to international selection process, 116 projects were evaluated | 25 grants were awarded, none for CR | 4th call (2006) | 1.9.2006 | 30.11.2006 | 1.12.2006-30.3.2007 | 1.4.-31.7.2007 |
| submission of 11 proposals in CR, 474 to ESF | 2 proposals from CR recommended to international selection process, 113 projects were evaluated | 20 grants were awarded, one for the Czech Republic | ||